Wednesday, October 31, 2007
I was going to write something else this evening, but instead it will have to be a sad farewell to Paul Fox, guitarist and songwriter with the UK Punk band the Ruts, who died on 21st October 2007 of lung cancer. I only learnt about it today.
The Ruts were one of the second wave of Punk bands that appeared in the wake of the Pistols, the Clash, etc., circa 1978/1979. I always felt that they were a very promising band, sadly undone by the death of singer Malcolm Owen in 1980 of a heroin overdose. The Ruts played music that fused dub reggae and hardcore punk. They only recorded a handful of singles, and one proper album, but when I was 16/17 I thought they were wonderful.
Better obituaries here and here.
Fancy a bit of "Staring At The Rude Boys"? I do.
RIP.
The Ruts were one of the second wave of Punk bands that appeared in the wake of the Pistols, the Clash, etc., circa 1978/1979. I always felt that they were a very promising band, sadly undone by the death of singer Malcolm Owen in 1980 of a heroin overdose. The Ruts played music that fused dub reggae and hardcore punk. They only recorded a handful of singles, and one proper album, but when I was 16/17 I thought they were wonderful.
Better obituaries here and here.
Fancy a bit of "Staring At The Rude Boys"? I do.
RIP.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Finger. Throb. Red. Blistered. Pynchon notes that his finger could have belonged to Seth Brundle in "The Fly". Pynchon wipes blood and pus from finger. Pynchon bangs finger. "Fuck Me!!! Mutherfucker!!! Bastard!!!" Pynchon rolls around on floor weeping. Pynchon makes gooey eyes at Lorraine so that he can be sent home from work. Lorraine ignores Pynchon. Cow! Pynchon shows finger to all the girls in the office. Girls weep, vomit and fling themselves from first storey windows. Pynchon is hot (and not in a good way) and irritable, but his poo has returned to normal.
It has been a fun day. Unless I actually manage to lose the finger, and if that happens I will purchase an artificial GOLD finger (see what I did there?), I don't think I am going to mention my digit problems again. There are more interesting things to write about. e.g. Some of the reports that have come out of the party The Corporation held on Friday night, and old news like my reaction to the whole "Dumbledore is Gay" thing and Radiohead's decision to allow punters to purchase their new album online for whatever they felt it was worth. I also need to catch up with other blogs.
... But not tonight. I had to renew my Norton anti-virus subscription and it took longer than expected. I am tired and I need to kiss my finger better.
(I thought you said you weren't going to mention it again?)
I lied.
'Night all.
It has been a fun day. Unless I actually manage to lose the finger, and if that happens I will purchase an artificial GOLD finger (see what I did there?), I don't think I am going to mention my digit problems again. There are more interesting things to write about. e.g. Some of the reports that have come out of the party The Corporation held on Friday night, and old news like my reaction to the whole "Dumbledore is Gay" thing and Radiohead's decision to allow punters to purchase their new album online for whatever they felt it was worth. I also need to catch up with other blogs.
... But not tonight. I had to renew my Norton anti-virus subscription and it took longer than expected. I am tired and I need to kiss my finger better.
(I thought you said you weren't going to mention it again?)
I lied.
'Night all.
Labels: Illness
Monday, October 29, 2007
Yesterday was a barrel of laughs. At approximately 1pm I was at the City Hospital, Accident and Emergency unit having an evil Torturer Doctor stick a blunt green needle into my right index finger, to extract the pus that had been gathering for a week. You might say that it was an interesting experience. I now realise that I am not a Hollywood tough guy. I screamed, I sweated, I cried, I ground my teeth and cursed God, the Devil and Margaret Thatcher.
It was all my own fault. I should have tried to see a Doctor during last week, but I always find it very difficult to get an appointment. (Body heal thyself, yes?) Since I did the gardening a week ago, I had been increasingly bothered by a tender spot on my right index finger, just below the nail. During the week the, lets call it a boil, got bigger and bigger, more and more painful and eventually turned a Prince-like beautiful shade of purple by Saturday evening. On Sunday morning it had started to turn black and my hand hurt me.
Ah...
I rang the fountain of all wisdom. (My Mom. Lorraine was still in Golders Green.) She ordered me to the hospital. Just as well. The very nice nurse told me that my hand had become infected and scowled at me for waiting so long before seeing somebody. TheTorturer Doctor did his thing, I was packed off with a prescription of Flucloxacillin and told to come back if the swelling didn't cease by Wednesday this week.
Frankly I feel like utter shit. My hand is very stiff and I can barely touch type, but that is not the half of it. I don't know if it is the tablets doing it, but last night I was very hot, had flu like symptoms and a chronic headache which has only partially gone away. I have also noticed that my poo is coming out as little bullet like stools, which definitely isn't normal. (Too much information, maybe?)
Such is life. It gave me something to write about, anyway.
********
Better things. The lovely J has posted up her review of my Shuffleathon CD. I think the lady more or less liked it. Nice one.
It was all my own fault. I should have tried to see a Doctor during last week, but I always find it very difficult to get an appointment. (Body heal thyself, yes?) Since I did the gardening a week ago, I had been increasingly bothered by a tender spot on my right index finger, just below the nail. During the week the, lets call it a boil, got bigger and bigger, more and more painful and eventually turned a Prince-like beautiful shade of purple by Saturday evening. On Sunday morning it had started to turn black and my hand hurt me.
Ah...
I rang the fountain of all wisdom. (My Mom. Lorraine was still in Golders Green.) She ordered me to the hospital. Just as well. The very nice nurse told me that my hand had become infected and scowled at me for waiting so long before seeing somebody. The
Frankly I feel like utter shit. My hand is very stiff and I can barely touch type, but that is not the half of it. I don't know if it is the tablets doing it, but last night I was very hot, had flu like symptoms and a chronic headache which has only partially gone away. I have also noticed that my poo is coming out as little bullet like stools, which definitely isn't normal. (Too much information, maybe?)
Such is life. It gave me something to write about, anyway.
********
Better things. The lovely J has posted up her review of my Shuffleathon CD. I think the lady more or less liked it. Nice one.
Labels: Illness, Shuffleathon
Sunday, October 28, 2007
"Eastern Promises".
Flashback to the late 1980's. At that time yer Pynch had very clear ideas as to who he felt were the two most interesting film Directors' in the world.
(Who were they, Pynch? Tell us. We beseech you!)
Ah... Glad you asked. The two most interesting film Directors' in the world, by the end of the 1980's, were David Lynch and David Cronenberg. Early on both were lumped in with the genre of what I would call 'Body Horror'. Both managed to escape that label and have made good, sometimes great, films since. It is interesting comparing how their careers have progressed.
David Lynch has become more and more wilfully obscure and art house ("Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me", "Lost Highway", "Mulholland Drive"), culminating with (the pretty unwatchable actually) "Inland Empire". It is almost as if he had decided to consciously reject the mainstream audience.
David Cronenberg, especially within the last 10 years or so, has turned to making increasingly mainstream films, with a peculiarly Cronenbergian bent. ("eXistenZ", "Spider", "A History Of Violence".) By now he might have been even further along the path of the mainstream if his proposed version of "Basic Instinct: Risk Addiction" had been made. (I read that he quit due to creative differences with star Sharon Stone. She wanted Benjamin Bratt to co-star as the psychiatrist, Cronenberg wanted Bruce Greenwood. Maybe it was all down to who Sharon wanted to knob her in the finished film. Interesting to note that neither actor was in the version that was eventually made.) Cronenberg's latest film is "Eastern Promises".
Sad to say it, "Eastern Promises" is somewhat of a disappointment.
Good performances (Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel and Armin Mueller-Stahl were particularly good), and an astonishingly vicious, brutal and disturbing set piece in a Turkish bath aside, "Eastern Promises" is too slow, too ponderous and, yes it has to be said, too dull. Not at all like a Cronenberg film. Cronenberg's films may sometimes be off centre, but they are never dull. "Eastern Promises" is also nowhere near as good as "A History Of Violence" because I didn't give a damn about any of the characters, and that is a crying shame.
So, onto the next one Mr. Cronenberg. I am still interested in what you are going to do next. I still love you.
Flashback to the late 1980's. At that time yer Pynch had very clear ideas as to who he felt were the two most interesting film Directors' in the world.
(Who were they, Pynch? Tell us. We beseech you!)
Ah... Glad you asked. The two most interesting film Directors' in the world, by the end of the 1980's, were David Lynch and David Cronenberg. Early on both were lumped in with the genre of what I would call 'Body Horror'. Both managed to escape that label and have made good, sometimes great, films since. It is interesting comparing how their careers have progressed.
David Lynch has become more and more wilfully obscure and art house ("Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me", "Lost Highway", "Mulholland Drive"), culminating with (the pretty unwatchable actually) "Inland Empire". It is almost as if he had decided to consciously reject the mainstream audience.
David Cronenberg, especially within the last 10 years or so, has turned to making increasingly mainstream films, with a peculiarly Cronenbergian bent. ("eXistenZ", "Spider", "A History Of Violence".) By now he might have been even further along the path of the mainstream if his proposed version of "Basic Instinct: Risk Addiction" had been made. (I read that he quit due to creative differences with star Sharon Stone. She wanted Benjamin Bratt to co-star as the psychiatrist, Cronenberg wanted Bruce Greenwood. Maybe it was all down to who Sharon wanted to knob her in the finished film. Interesting to note that neither actor was in the version that was eventually made.) Cronenberg's latest film is "Eastern Promises".
Sad to say it, "Eastern Promises" is somewhat of a disappointment.
Good performances (Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel and Armin Mueller-Stahl were particularly good), and an astonishingly vicious, brutal and disturbing set piece in a Turkish bath aside, "Eastern Promises" is too slow, too ponderous and, yes it has to be said, too dull. Not at all like a Cronenberg film. Cronenberg's films may sometimes be off centre, but they are never dull. "Eastern Promises" is also nowhere near as good as "A History Of Violence" because I didn't give a damn about any of the characters, and that is a crying shame.
So, onto the next one Mr. Cronenberg. I am still interested in what you are going to do next. I still love you.
Labels: Movies
Friday, October 26, 2007
I will be all alone for most of this weekend. Lorraine has gone off to Golders Green to sort out some business with regard to her Aunt's house. Tonight she was supposed to have gone to the merger takeover party that The Corporation is holding, but decided against it at the last minute. I was never going to the party. When it was announced, Lorraine asked me if I would be attending. I told her that they could kiss my ass. I would rather have the money in my pocket than spend the evening socialising with people that I don't like and gorging myself on free food and getting pissed at the free bar. Other people who decided they were not going had excuses for their lack of commitment to the cause. Not me. Ain't I just the hero?
This week, Wednesday I think it was, the management decided that everybody who going to the party could leave at 14:30 to give them time to 'get ready'. That was nice of them. Shame they never said that a couple of weeks ago. They might have had a few more people attending. At 14:30 I stood at the window and watched the people leave. Pigs at the trough.
Bitter? Me?
Ha, ha, ha, ha...
Still, I have had an entertaining evening. Junk food, a double bill of "Scrubs", an episode of "Gangsters" on DVD, paid some bills, surfed the net. I will be watching the "Comedy Showcase" on Channel 4 in a minute and then I will be going to bed. I have a mad amount of things to do tomorrow.
This week, Wednesday I think it was, the management decided that everybody who going to the party could leave at 14:30 to give them time to 'get ready'. That was nice of them. Shame they never said that a couple of weeks ago. They might have had a few more people attending. At 14:30 I stood at the window and watched the people leave. Pigs at the trough.
Bitter? Me?
Ha, ha, ha, ha...
Still, I have had an entertaining evening. Junk food, a double bill of "Scrubs", an episode of "Gangsters" on DVD, paid some bills, surfed the net. I will be watching the "Comedy Showcase" on Channel 4 in a minute and then I will be going to bed. I have a mad amount of things to do tomorrow.
Labels: The Corporation
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure. I thought that writing a blog was supposed to be for pleasure, but it seems to be a hell of a lot of hard work, lately. I really shouldn't take it that seriously.
Anyway...
The review of Maximum Bob's CD is done. Here is the review, but first some thoughts.
Maximum Bob's Shuffleathon CD is a definite Thursday night listening experience. Why Thursday night, I hear you asking? Well, Thursday night is the night that Bob Harris does the Country Music show on BBC Radio 2. It is a show that I can often be found listening to, either while doing the cooking or the washing up. Background ambiance. Some of it I like, some of it I don't. I must admit that I rarely listen to the show until the end.
If I had to label the type of music on Maximum Bob's Shuffleathon CD (and labelling music isn't something I have much truck with) I would definitely say that it is a Country CD. Nothing wrong with that, but it occurred to me that Country music as a genre is seriously under subscribed in my CD collection. In fact, at this moment in time, I can think of only two Country albums that I own. They are
"The Best Of Glen Campbell" by Glen Campbell.
"Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" by the Byrds.
Tracks from those two albums sometimes pop up on shuffle on my MP3 player. Sometimes I let them play. Sometimes I don't.
I have had a good listen to Maximum Bob's CD. This is my honest opinion.
Firstly I have to dismiss the stuff that I thought was shite. (Sorry Bob.)
1. "Chasin' Whiskey" by Julie Roberts.
2. "Here's A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)" by Travis Tritt.
7. "No Next Time" by Allison Moorer.
12. "Whiskey And You" by Tim McGraw.
Dreadful Country cliche's from start to end. Cheating wives, cuckolded husbands, loneliness, alcoholism, twangy vocals and lots and lots of steel guitar. Awful. Truly horrible noise from start to end. (I will say, though, that Lorraine liked all of them. I think she said that to piss me off.)
Now for the ones that I would listen to, and have listened to, again. (There's more I liked than didn't, Bob!)
3. "You Can Feel Bad" by Patty Loveless.
It reminds me of something that Shania Twain would have recorded when she was still releasing great singles in the UK circa 1998/1999. A really good pop song and I just love a good pop song.
4. "Break My Heart Tonight" by Reckless Kelly.
Starts off a bit like "Some Might Say" by Oasis (not a bad thing in my book) and is a nice, mid paced, tuneful rocker. It also features the word 'damn' spat out with some venom which I kind of like. Good track.
5. "Settlin'" by Sugarland.
Starts off like "Stand" by R.EM. or is it something by Talking Heads? Not sure. Another mid paced rocker. Great vocals and guitar work.
6. "Nothing" by Dwight Yoakam.
Ah... Now this is really good. Brilliant track. Really brilliant. It reminds me a lot of the kind of thing Roy Orbison, and sometimes Chris Isaak, used to do so well. Soulful, full of emotion, shimmering guitars, understated organ, strings, wonderful backing vocals. Almost an R 'n' B vibe to it. With a slightly different backing track it could even work as a dance track. (Get Mark Ronson on the phone, now.) One of the two truly outstanding tracks on the CD. (A result, Bob!)
8. "I'm Gonna Miss Her" by Brad Paisley.
This song made me laugh. I think that was the whole point. A guy is forced to make a choice. Fishing or his wife. No choice really. He doesn't really sound like he is going to miss his wife, though. I seem to remember a similar song where a guy had to choose between his wife and his horse. The horse won. Obviously.
9. "I Doubt If It Does To You" by Joy Lynn White.
The second really brilliant track on this CD. Outstanding. A descending acoustic guitar riff reminiscent of "Monday" by the Jam, although not really anything like that song. Yearning, emotional , brilliant vocals, with a girl picking over the remnants of a collapsing relationship. I think it is just wonderful. It might be the best track on the CD. I even looked up the singer on the Web. I might buy the album that this comes from. (Another result, Bob.)
10. "You Look Good In My Shirt" by Keith Urban.
(Isn't this guy married to Nicole Kidman? Bastard! I immediately hate him.) I did like this. True it swings perilously close to Southern redneck cliche, but a fun track nevertheless. Keith sounds like he is having a ball and that makes all the difference. They should have stuck it on the "Dukes Of Hazzard" soundtrack. It would have fitted right in.
11. "You And Tequila" by Deana Carter.
Reminds me of the kind of song that made Norah Jones' career. A lovely, sweet song with practically whispered vocals. Really nice, and kind of sexy, in my opinion.
OK, I didn't like a third of the tracks on the CD, but two thirds I did like. I think that is pretty good for any album I listen to these days.
Anyway...
The review of Maximum Bob's CD is done. Here is the review, but first some thoughts.
Maximum Bob's Shuffleathon CD is a definite Thursday night listening experience. Why Thursday night, I hear you asking? Well, Thursday night is the night that Bob Harris does the Country Music show on BBC Radio 2. It is a show that I can often be found listening to, either while doing the cooking or the washing up. Background ambiance. Some of it I like, some of it I don't. I must admit that I rarely listen to the show until the end.
If I had to label the type of music on Maximum Bob's Shuffleathon CD (and labelling music isn't something I have much truck with) I would definitely say that it is a Country CD. Nothing wrong with that, but it occurred to me that Country music as a genre is seriously under subscribed in my CD collection. In fact, at this moment in time, I can think of only two Country albums that I own. They are
"The Best Of Glen Campbell" by Glen Campbell.
"Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" by the Byrds.
Tracks from those two albums sometimes pop up on shuffle on my MP3 player. Sometimes I let them play. Sometimes I don't.
I have had a good listen to Maximum Bob's CD. This is my honest opinion.
Firstly I have to dismiss the stuff that I thought was shite. (Sorry Bob.)
1. "Chasin' Whiskey" by Julie Roberts.
2. "Here's A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)" by Travis Tritt.
7. "No Next Time" by Allison Moorer.
12. "Whiskey And You" by Tim McGraw.
Dreadful Country cliche's from start to end. Cheating wives, cuckolded husbands, loneliness, alcoholism, twangy vocals and lots and lots of steel guitar. Awful. Truly horrible noise from start to end. (I will say, though, that Lorraine liked all of them. I think she said that to piss me off.)
Now for the ones that I would listen to, and have listened to, again. (There's more I liked than didn't, Bob!)
3. "You Can Feel Bad" by Patty Loveless.
It reminds me of something that Shania Twain would have recorded when she was still releasing great singles in the UK circa 1998/1999. A really good pop song and I just love a good pop song.
4. "Break My Heart Tonight" by Reckless Kelly.
Starts off a bit like "Some Might Say" by Oasis (not a bad thing in my book) and is a nice, mid paced, tuneful rocker. It also features the word 'damn' spat out with some venom which I kind of like. Good track.
5. "Settlin'" by Sugarland.
Starts off like "Stand" by R.EM. or is it something by Talking Heads? Not sure. Another mid paced rocker. Great vocals and guitar work.
6. "Nothing" by Dwight Yoakam.
Ah... Now this is really good. Brilliant track. Really brilliant. It reminds me a lot of the kind of thing Roy Orbison, and sometimes Chris Isaak, used to do so well. Soulful, full of emotion, shimmering guitars, understated organ, strings, wonderful backing vocals. Almost an R 'n' B vibe to it. With a slightly different backing track it could even work as a dance track. (Get Mark Ronson on the phone, now.) One of the two truly outstanding tracks on the CD. (A result, Bob!)
8. "I'm Gonna Miss Her" by Brad Paisley.
This song made me laugh. I think that was the whole point. A guy is forced to make a choice. Fishing or his wife. No choice really. He doesn't really sound like he is going to miss his wife, though. I seem to remember a similar song where a guy had to choose between his wife and his horse. The horse won. Obviously.
9. "I Doubt If It Does To You" by Joy Lynn White.
The second really brilliant track on this CD. Outstanding. A descending acoustic guitar riff reminiscent of "Monday" by the Jam, although not really anything like that song. Yearning, emotional , brilliant vocals, with a girl picking over the remnants of a collapsing relationship. I think it is just wonderful. It might be the best track on the CD. I even looked up the singer on the Web. I might buy the album that this comes from. (Another result, Bob.)
10. "You Look Good In My Shirt" by Keith Urban.
(Isn't this guy married to Nicole Kidman? Bastard! I immediately hate him.) I did like this. True it swings perilously close to Southern redneck cliche, but a fun track nevertheless. Keith sounds like he is having a ball and that makes all the difference. They should have stuck it on the "Dukes Of Hazzard" soundtrack. It would have fitted right in.
11. "You And Tequila" by Deana Carter.
Reminds me of the kind of song that made Norah Jones' career. A lovely, sweet song with practically whispered vocals. Really nice, and kind of sexy, in my opinion.
OK, I didn't like a third of the tracks on the CD, but two thirds I did like. I think that is pretty good for any album I listen to these days.
Labels: Music
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
One way or another there will be a review of Maximium Bob's Shuffleathon CD at this very spot tomorrow. I am most of the way through writing it, but I am still not happy. I think a time limit is called for.
In other news, Lorraine is horrified by the use of her favourite song of all time ("Dock Of The Bay" by Otis Redding) in a car advert. I think the phrase she actually used was 'advertising scum fucking bastards'. True, I did feel much the same when they used "My Generation" by the Who is an ice cream ad.
In other news, Lorraine is horrified by the use of her favourite song of all time ("Dock Of The Bay" by Otis Redding) in a car advert. I think the phrase she actually used was 'advertising scum fucking bastards'. True, I did feel much the same when they used "My Generation" by the Who is an ice cream ad.
Labels: Music
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Maybe getting here early will feed the fountainhead of creativity?
(The definition of the word Fountainhead. "The upper end of a confined-aquifer conduit, where it intersects the land surface." I have no idea what that means, but it sounds great.)
Ian Brown. Carling Academy, Birmingham. Friday 19th October 2007.
It was OK.
Yeah. I think that just about covers it.
It was a weird situation. I only got the ticket on a whim.
A little while ago, on a Friday, I was on a day off. I was in W. H. Smith flicking through the NME looking at the upcoming gigs, when I saw that the tickets for the Ian Brown tour were on sale that day. I went straight down to the Carling Academy, got a ticket and that was that. As time went by I started to question why I got the ticket. Except for the Stone Roses albums, I own no Ian Brown music. I quite liked some of his solo stuff, but not quite enough to buy any of it. (Not that I buy a lot of music anyway, these days.) So, why go? No reason. I just fancied it on that day.
Anyway, I went to the gig.
We got "I Wanna Be Adored" (a great classic), "Dolphins Were Monkeys" (I like that one), some horn driven groove stuff, "My Star" (good), "Corpses In Their Mouths" (good), something with sampled strings on it (OK), other stuff that made no impression, "I Am The Resurrection" (great), a couple of tracks from the new album that alo made no impression, and then I left during the encore, which was a new song which appeared to have exactly the same tune as "Fools Gold".
If it comes down to it, I suppose I was a bit bored.
One thing, though. A girl at work, who saw Ian Brown headlining at some festival or other, told me that he was the worst singer that she had ever seen live. She asked me if I had ever walked out of a gig. I said only the once. She said to expect to want to walk out of the Ian Brown gig. Well, he was not the best singer in the world, but he was in tune and wasn't too bad. I suppose there are worse singers about.
Here endeth the Ian Brown review. Now I just need to get the bloody Shuffleathon review done...
(The definition of the word Fountainhead. "The upper end of a confined-aquifer conduit, where it intersects the land surface." I have no idea what that means, but it sounds great.)
Ian Brown. Carling Academy, Birmingham. Friday 19th October 2007.
It was OK.
Yeah. I think that just about covers it.
It was a weird situation. I only got the ticket on a whim.
A little while ago, on a Friday, I was on a day off. I was in W. H. Smith flicking through the NME looking at the upcoming gigs, when I saw that the tickets for the Ian Brown tour were on sale that day. I went straight down to the Carling Academy, got a ticket and that was that. As time went by I started to question why I got the ticket. Except for the Stone Roses albums, I own no Ian Brown music. I quite liked some of his solo stuff, but not quite enough to buy any of it. (Not that I buy a lot of music anyway, these days.) So, why go? No reason. I just fancied it on that day.
Anyway, I went to the gig.
We got "I Wanna Be Adored" (a great classic), "Dolphins Were Monkeys" (I like that one), some horn driven groove stuff, "My Star" (good), "Corpses In Their Mouths" (good), something with sampled strings on it (OK), other stuff that made no impression, "I Am The Resurrection" (great), a couple of tracks from the new album that alo made no impression, and then I left during the encore, which was a new song which appeared to have exactly the same tune as "Fools Gold".
If it comes down to it, I suppose I was a bit bored.
One thing, though. A girl at work, who saw Ian Brown headlining at some festival or other, told me that he was the worst singer that she had ever seen live. She asked me if I had ever walked out of a gig. I said only the once. She said to expect to want to walk out of the Ian Brown gig. Well, he was not the best singer in the world, but he was in tune and wasn't too bad. I suppose there are worse singers about.
Here endeth the Ian Brown review. Now I just need to get the bloody Shuffleathon review done...
Labels: Music
Monday, October 22, 2007
... Or maybe another day.
My head is all over the place. I cannot write.
(Or have I just been spending my time copying music onto my MP3 player? I might have.)
I will throw myself into the river like a tortured artist! Or I might cut off my ear! (Er... That might hurt.)
The river it is then!
My head is all over the place. I cannot write.
(Or have I just been spending my time copying music onto my MP3 player? I might have.)
I will throw myself into the river like a tortured artist! Or I might cut off my ear! (Er... That might hurt.)
The river it is then!
Labels: Block
Sunday, October 21, 2007
I didn't blog on Friday because I went to see Ian Brown.
I didn't blog on Saturday because I went shopping with Lorraine, watched "The X-Factor" (even though I promised Lorraine that we would skip it this year) and then the Rugby World Cup final (bad luck England).
I didn't blog today because I spent hours in the garden (in the process cutting my forearms to ribbons and hurting my fingers), watched the Brazilian Grand Prix (bad luck Lewis), had a bath
and watched "Dirty Dancing" (an unspeakably awful movie, but not un-entertaining in a Sado Masochistic way) with Lorraine.
There is catching up to do, never mind interesting, pithy and perceptive reviews to write of the Ian Brown gig and the Maximum Bob Shuffleathon CD. I also have a long email to send to a friend.
You don't mind waiting one more day, do you?
I didn't blog on Saturday because I went shopping with Lorraine, watched "The X-Factor" (even though I promised Lorraine that we would skip it this year) and then the Rugby World Cup final (bad luck England).
I didn't blog today because I spent hours in the garden (in the process cutting my forearms to ribbons and hurting my fingers), watched the Brazilian Grand Prix (bad luck Lewis), had a bath
and watched "Dirty Dancing" (an unspeakably awful movie, but not un-entertaining in a Sado Masochistic way) with Lorraine.
There is catching up to do, never mind interesting, pithy and perceptive reviews to write of the Ian Brown gig and the Maximum Bob Shuffleathon CD. I also have a long email to send to a friend.
You don't mind waiting one more day, do you?
Labels: Busy
Thursday, October 18, 2007
There should be a review of Maximum Bob's Shuffleathon CD around here somewhere. Hang on a minute. I'll just have a look for it.
(Has a look.)
Hmm.... I can't find it.
No. Now I remember. I've deleted it because it was a piece of shit! (The review that is, not the CD. I'm listening to it now and there are two tracks that I think are absolutely wonderful.)
OK. I am in some kind of fanatical, perfection seeking mood where everything I write is unsatisfactory and not worthy of the genius that I am. I'll get over it. Sorry Maximum Bob. I cannot even promise that when the review finally appears it will have been worth the wait.
I will be back at the weekend. Tomorrow I am off to see Ian Brown at the Carling Academy.
Now I'm off now to watch "Californication". Lorraine hates it. I think it is really funny.
(Has a look.)
Hmm.... I can't find it.
No. Now I remember. I've deleted it because it was a piece of shit! (The review that is, not the CD. I'm listening to it now and there are two tracks that I think are absolutely wonderful.)
OK. I am in some kind of fanatical, perfection seeking mood where everything I write is unsatisfactory and not worthy of the genius that I am. I'll get over it. Sorry Maximum Bob. I cannot even promise that when the review finally appears it will have been worth the wait.
I will be back at the weekend. Tomorrow I am off to see Ian Brown at the Carling Academy.
Now I'm off now to watch "Californication". Lorraine hates it. I think it is really funny.
Labels: Block, Shuffleathon
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
"Mr. Brooks".
Kevin Costner is Mr. Brooks. Successful businessman, pillar of the community, loving husband and father. Mr. Brooks is also an extremely competent, clinical and careful serial killer; that is when he can no longer resist the urge to indulge in his 'addiction'. "Mr. Brooks" is about the consequences when Mr. Brooks makes a silly mistake when out enjoying an evening's 'entertainment'.
I think that it is safe to assume that the glory days of the 1980's and 1990's in which Kevin Costner and Demi Moore occupied to rarefied air of the A-Lister is now far behind them. (William Hurt has always been a fine character actor, but even after winning the Oscar he was never an A-Lister, and probably never will be.) However, if the reduction in their star status means that Mr. Costner and Ms. Moore can now spend their time appearing in gloriously daft and entertaining psycho thrillers like "Mr. Brooks", then may they languish in their current B- pecking order forever.
It is not going to win any Oscars, but I really enjoyed "Mr. Brooks". It is exactly the kind of movie that used to go straight to video, but now turns up on Movies 24. A psychotic killer, a female cop with something to prove, a bit of voyeuristic sex, some violent murders. Trashy stuff, great stuff and really funny, if you let it catch you the right way.
********
(Peal of trumpets.)
My review of Maximum Bob's Shuffleathon CD will be here on Thursday. I am having a day off from the blog tomorrow. Wednesday night. "Heroes" night. You know it makes sense.
Kevin Costner is Mr. Brooks. Successful businessman, pillar of the community, loving husband and father. Mr. Brooks is also an extremely competent, clinical and careful serial killer; that is when he can no longer resist the urge to indulge in his 'addiction'. "Mr. Brooks" is about the consequences when Mr. Brooks makes a silly mistake when out enjoying an evening's 'entertainment'.
I think that it is safe to assume that the glory days of the 1980's and 1990's in which Kevin Costner and Demi Moore occupied to rarefied air of the A-Lister is now far behind them. (William Hurt has always been a fine character actor, but even after winning the Oscar he was never an A-Lister, and probably never will be.) However, if the reduction in their star status means that Mr. Costner and Ms. Moore can now spend their time appearing in gloriously daft and entertaining psycho thrillers like "Mr. Brooks", then may they languish in their current B- pecking order forever.
Even in his lightest films Kevin Costner always struck me as being just a little bit too dour and just a little bit too serious. Here he is truly seems to be having the time of his life, striking up a wonderful double act with a droll William Hurt, who plays Mr. Brooks' whispering, cajoling and teasing psychosis. Good performances by the pair of them, and also by Demi Moore as the cop trying to catch them amidst her own personal problems.
It is not going to win any Oscars, but I really enjoyed "Mr. Brooks". It is exactly the kind of movie that used to go straight to video, but now turns up on Movies 24. A psychotic killer, a female cop with something to prove, a bit of voyeuristic sex, some violent murders. Trashy stuff, great stuff and really funny, if you let it catch you the right way.
********
(Peal of trumpets.)
My review of Maximum Bob's Shuffleathon CD will be here on Thursday. I am having a day off from the blog tomorrow. Wednesday night. "Heroes" night. You know it makes sense.
Labels: Movies
Monday, October 15, 2007
"Control".
In 1980 a music legend died.
The legend was a man considered by many to be a poet, a visionary and a genius. A man whose band challenged and extended the boundaries of what could be done with popular music. This was a man who, at the time, influenced an entire generation of musicians and whose shadow still hangs large over much of the music produced today.
This man's sudden death shocked me deeply. I still think of all of the great music that would never be heard and the full career that would never be.
Sorry? What was that again?
No. I'm talking about John Lennon. Frankly the death of Ian Curtis meant diddly squat to me at the time. True, I had heard of Joy Division, and I rather liked "Love With Tear Us Apart", but beyond a general sadness upon hearing of the death of a man at such a young age, Ian Curtis' death didn't touch me at all. I do remember Tony Wilson on the radio, during this time, denying that Joy Division were going to split up because "the other three guys are really talented musicians and have already started to write new songs". I remember thinking that that was a little cold and unnecessary, almost as if it didn't matter that Ian Curtis had died. Business as usual.
I cannot claim to be the biggest Joy Division aficionado in the world, simply because I still really only know a handful of their songs. My favourites are "Transmission", "Atmosphere" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart". (The popular ones?) I went to see "Control" because the snippets of the Joy Division story in the movie "24 Hour Party People" intrigued me and I wanted to know more.
In execution "Control" couldn't have been more different from "24 Hour Party People". If this had been the 1960's "24 Hour Party People" would have been late 60's, freewheeling, loud, energetic and psychedelic, with "Control" being early 60's, Alan Sillitoe, kitchen sink, grim, eee-lad-it's-grim-oop-North drama shot in expressionistic and beautiful black and white and probably starring Tom Courteney or Albert Finney.
Did I say grim? Not all of it. "Control" is shot through with a very black Northern humour. Toby Kebbell as legendary Joy Division/New Order manager Rob Gretton is absolutely hilarious, be it berating the abilities of an early Joy Division manager or trying to convince another singer to replace Ian Curtis onstage mid gig. Joe Anderson is also very funny as Peter Hook, especially when trying to wind up Tony Wilson (Craig Parkinson - less comical than Steve Coogan, but effective) or expressing his annoyance about name of the punk band the Buzzcocks.
Sam Riley has received unqualified plaudits for his performance as the tragic Ian Curtis, and so he should. He was absolutely brilliant. An astonishing physical resemblance to Curtis (much more than Sean Harris in "24 Hour Party People"). He moved like Curtis and sounded liked Curtis. (I don't know if it is true I'm told that the guys playing Joy Division in the film actually played their instruments live. If it is true, good for them. They sounded like a real band.) It might be the performance of his Sam Riley's life. I hope he turns out to be a great actor and impresses in other great films.
Outside of the above, "Control" generally had a great all round cast. Especially Samantha Morton who was great as a kind of innocent Deborah Curtis. Trying to build a life of domesticity for herself, her husband and baby, but losing out to the pressures and temptations of a music business lifestyle and Curtis' inner demons. Fantastic, straightforward and as real a performance as you could hope to see in a modern film.
One of the final shots of the film was interesting. The three remaining, grief stricken members of Joy Division sitting (in the pub?) Stephen Morris' girlfriend joins them at the table. She puts her arm around him. The camera lingers on them. The first shot of the fledgling New Order.
Excellent film. About time I finally got hold of those Joy Division albums, isn't it?
Go and see.
********
A couple of reviews to come. "Mr. Brooks" and, of course, Maximum Bob's CD in the Shuffleathon 2007.
But not now.
In 1980 a music legend died.
The legend was a man considered by many to be a poet, a visionary and a genius. A man whose band challenged and extended the boundaries of what could be done with popular music. This was a man who, at the time, influenced an entire generation of musicians and whose shadow still hangs large over much of the music produced today.
This man's sudden death shocked me deeply. I still think of all of the great music that would never be heard and the full career that would never be.
Sorry? What was that again?
No. I'm talking about John Lennon. Frankly the death of Ian Curtis meant diddly squat to me at the time. True, I had heard of Joy Division, and I rather liked "Love With Tear Us Apart", but beyond a general sadness upon hearing of the death of a man at such a young age, Ian Curtis' death didn't touch me at all. I do remember Tony Wilson on the radio, during this time, denying that Joy Division were going to split up because "the other three guys are really talented musicians and have already started to write new songs". I remember thinking that that was a little cold and unnecessary, almost as if it didn't matter that Ian Curtis had died. Business as usual.
I cannot claim to be the biggest Joy Division aficionado in the world, simply because I still really only know a handful of their songs. My favourites are "Transmission", "Atmosphere" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart". (The popular ones?) I went to see "Control" because the snippets of the Joy Division story in the movie "24 Hour Party People" intrigued me and I wanted to know more.
In execution "Control" couldn't have been more different from "24 Hour Party People". If this had been the 1960's "24 Hour Party People" would have been late 60's, freewheeling, loud, energetic and psychedelic, with "Control" being early 60's, Alan Sillitoe, kitchen sink, grim, eee-lad-it's-grim-oop-North drama shot in expressionistic and beautiful black and white and probably starring Tom Courteney or Albert Finney.
Did I say grim? Not all of it. "Control" is shot through with a very black Northern humour. Toby Kebbell as legendary Joy Division/New Order manager Rob Gretton is absolutely hilarious, be it berating the abilities of an early Joy Division manager or trying to convince another singer to replace Ian Curtis onstage mid gig. Joe Anderson is also very funny as Peter Hook, especially when trying to wind up Tony Wilson (Craig Parkinson - less comical than Steve Coogan, but effective) or expressing his annoyance about name of the punk band the Buzzcocks.
Sam Riley has received unqualified plaudits for his performance as the tragic Ian Curtis, and so he should. He was absolutely brilliant. An astonishing physical resemblance to Curtis (much more than Sean Harris in "24 Hour Party People"). He moved like Curtis and sounded liked Curtis. (I don't know if it is true I'm told that the guys playing Joy Division in the film actually played their instruments live. If it is true, good for them. They sounded like a real band.) It might be the performance of his Sam Riley's life. I hope he turns out to be a great actor and impresses in other great films.
Outside of the above, "Control" generally had a great all round cast. Especially Samantha Morton who was great as a kind of innocent Deborah Curtis. Trying to build a life of domesticity for herself, her husband and baby, but losing out to the pressures and temptations of a music business lifestyle and Curtis' inner demons. Fantastic, straightforward and as real a performance as you could hope to see in a modern film.
One of the final shots of the film was interesting. The three remaining, grief stricken members of Joy Division sitting (in the pub?) Stephen Morris' girlfriend joins them at the table. She puts her arm around him. The camera lingers on them. The first shot of the fledgling New Order.
Excellent film. About time I finally got hold of those Joy Division albums, isn't it?
Go and see.
********
A couple of reviews to come. "Mr. Brooks" and, of course, Maximum Bob's CD in the Shuffleathon 2007.
But not now.
Labels: Movies
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Yesterday I had a day off work. I spent the whole day hoovering the house and cleaning the kitchen. Lorraine had said that there was a "smell" and that I should do something about it. After cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom I discovered that the smell was coming from bin.
The solution?
Empty the bin.
Yeah!
I had every intention yesterday of writing about the Roger Hodgson gig at the Symphony Hall, that I went to on Thursday night, but I had desperately important things to do. Yes. After being cleaning maid for the whole day, I watched TV from 7pm until 11:30pm. All good stuff, though. ("Scrubs", "Contact", Channel 4's "Comedy Showcase" and "Fonejacker".)
Anyway, Roger Hodgson.
Let me tell you what I know about the band Supertramp.
(Er... You know nothing about the band Supertramp.)
Yes, my whispering inner voice. You are quite correct. Until recently I couldn't even have told you who was in the band. My entire knowledge of Supertramp comes from the clutch of great singles that they released between 1974 and 1979. "Dreamer", "Give A Little Bit", "Breakfast In America", "It's Raining Again", "Goodbye Stranger", "Take The Long Way Home" and especially "The Logical Song". They may have made great albums, as well. I wouldn't know.
I first heard "The Logical Song" in 1979. Even then, as an ignorant 16 year old who, at the time, listened to nothing but the Beatles and New Wave, I remember thinking that on "The Logical Song" Supertramp were singing about something of a fundamental truth, that I wouldn't be able to grasp at that stage, but would understand when I got older. It was true, as well. I think that "The Logical Song" is one of the best songs of all time about that fabled thing 'the mid-life crisis', and is a song that still stands up today.
Re. the gig. With reservations, I really enjoyed it.
Roger Hodgson is still a brilliant singer and a consummate musician, whether on grand piano, electronic keyboards or acoustic guitar. It was a (nearly) solo unplugged set, except that there was another great musician onstage who played a variety of wind instruments, a little bit of keyboards and sang harmony vocals. Great songs, all the hits, crystal clear sound mix and, importantly, Roger Hodgson seemed to be having a really great time.
The problem was that for the majority of the gig the atmosphere was curiously bloodless and passionless. I don't know if it was down to the typical, apathetic Brummie Symphony Hall audience who were, without exception, white, well fed, middle class, middle aged, balding (the men), and spare tyred (the men and the women), whose days of showing real excitement at a gig were long behind them. I really couldn't say. After Roger Hodgson played "The Logical Song" (obviously) the excitement level did pick up, and by the second encore ("Give A Little Bit"), most of the audience were on their feet, and I was treated to the fine sight of a nice middle class lady in front of me dancing like a chicken (head going up and down - she was great), so it ended well.
So, it was a good gig, but a more enthusiastic audience could have made it better.
There I must leave it for the moment. Lorraine and I have been invited to a Dinner Party at Mad Harriet Quant's house. (Mad Marion was the bonkers receptionist at The Company who quit when The Corporation took over. A lady of principle. I took the piss out of Marion every day for 5 years. She never took offence and always referred to me as a 'Naughty Boy'. A lovely lady and it is going to be nice to see her again.) I have never been to a Dinner Party before. I feel like a barbarian at the gates. Do I drink red wine with my left or right hand? Is it OK to burp at the table? Is it good etiquette to stare at the cleavages of ladies who are wearing low cut tops? I will be strong, my friends. Don't worry. I will still be a rebel when I return. Like Steve McQueen.
My Shuflleathon 2007 CD arrived yesterday from unknown parts, but a quick email to Swiss Toni sorted out the mystery. (Cheers Swiss.) An interesting and rewarding listen (really), which is all I will say at this juncture, until I get the review down. Should be in the next day or two.
I have also seen "Control" today and I will write about that next time.
The solution?
Empty the bin.
Yeah!
I had every intention yesterday of writing about the Roger Hodgson gig at the Symphony Hall, that I went to on Thursday night, but I had desperately important things to do. Yes. After being cleaning maid for the whole day, I watched TV from 7pm until 11:30pm. All good stuff, though. ("Scrubs", "Contact", Channel 4's "Comedy Showcase" and "Fonejacker".)
Anyway, Roger Hodgson.
Let me tell you what I know about the band Supertramp.
(Er... You know nothing about the band Supertramp.)
Yes, my whispering inner voice. You are quite correct. Until recently I couldn't even have told you who was in the band. My entire knowledge of Supertramp comes from the clutch of great singles that they released between 1974 and 1979. "Dreamer", "Give A Little Bit", "Breakfast In America", "It's Raining Again", "Goodbye Stranger", "Take The Long Way Home" and especially "The Logical Song". They may have made great albums, as well. I wouldn't know.
I first heard "The Logical Song" in 1979. Even then, as an ignorant 16 year old who, at the time, listened to nothing but the Beatles and New Wave, I remember thinking that on "The Logical Song" Supertramp were singing about something of a fundamental truth, that I wouldn't be able to grasp at that stage, but would understand when I got older. It was true, as well. I think that "The Logical Song" is one of the best songs of all time about that fabled thing 'the mid-life crisis', and is a song that still stands up today.
Re. the gig. With reservations, I really enjoyed it.
Roger Hodgson is still a brilliant singer and a consummate musician, whether on grand piano, electronic keyboards or acoustic guitar. It was a (nearly) solo unplugged set, except that there was another great musician onstage who played a variety of wind instruments, a little bit of keyboards and sang harmony vocals. Great songs, all the hits, crystal clear sound mix and, importantly, Roger Hodgson seemed to be having a really great time.
The problem was that for the majority of the gig the atmosphere was curiously bloodless and passionless. I don't know if it was down to the typical, apathetic Brummie Symphony Hall audience who were, without exception, white, well fed, middle class, middle aged, balding (the men), and spare tyred (the men and the women), whose days of showing real excitement at a gig were long behind them. I really couldn't say. After Roger Hodgson played "The Logical Song" (obviously) the excitement level did pick up, and by the second encore ("Give A Little Bit"), most of the audience were on their feet, and I was treated to the fine sight of a nice middle class lady in front of me dancing like a chicken (head going up and down - she was great), so it ended well.
So, it was a good gig, but a more enthusiastic audience could have made it better.
There I must leave it for the moment. Lorraine and I have been invited to a Dinner Party at Mad Harriet Quant's house. (Mad Marion was the bonkers receptionist at The Company who quit when The Corporation took over. A lady of principle. I took the piss out of Marion every day for 5 years. She never took offence and always referred to me as a 'Naughty Boy'. A lovely lady and it is going to be nice to see her again.) I have never been to a Dinner Party before. I feel like a barbarian at the gates. Do I drink red wine with my left or right hand? Is it OK to burp at the table? Is it good etiquette to stare at the cleavages of ladies who are wearing low cut tops? I will be strong, my friends. Don't worry. I will still be a rebel when I return. Like Steve McQueen.
My Shuflleathon 2007 CD arrived yesterday from unknown parts, but a quick email to Swiss Toni sorted out the mystery. (Cheers Swiss.) An interesting and rewarding listen (really), which is all I will say at this juncture, until I get the review down. Should be in the next day or two.
I have also seen "Control" today and I will write about that next time.
Labels: Chores, Music, Socialising
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
There was a post-a-brewing that would have started with the line
"I believe that people should be paid for the work that they do"
but then I got really into writing a response to the couple of comments on my last post and just simply ran out of time.
I should go to bed. I need to get some sleep.
Tomorrow evening I will be out watching Roger Hodgson (ex lead singer of Supertramp) at the Symphony Hall. Probably no post tomorrow, so back on Friday.
"I believe that people should be paid for the work that they do"
but then I got really into writing a response to the couple of comments on my last post and just simply ran out of time.
I should go to bed. I need to get some sleep.
Tomorrow evening I will be out watching Roger Hodgson (ex lead singer of Supertramp) at the Symphony Hall. Probably no post tomorrow, so back on Friday.
Labels: Writing
Monday, October 08, 2007
Welcome to Pynchon's Political Corner, where the hot political questions of the day are asked and answered.
Today's question.
By deciding not to go for an early election, did Gordon Brown bottle it?
Today's answer.
Yes. Er... I mean No. I don't know. Maybe. If David Cameron (or Tony Blair or John Major or The Witch or James Callaghan or Harold Wilson, et al) had been Prime Minister, they would have made exactly the same decision. Only an insane Prime Minister would call an election when they didn't have to, if the polls showed a chance that their party might lose. Why risk it now?
So, bottling it? Maybe only making the only decision that could be made at the time.
Thanks for visiting. Pynchon's Political Corner will return... er... sometime.
******
Yesterday I saw "Michael Clayton" starring big (allegedly) George Clooney. Here is a nice picture of him, just for Katy. Poor guy. He's looking a bit tired, isn't he?
I liked "Michael Clayton" a great deal. It is a good, old fashioned, corporate conspiracy thriller that, 30 years ago, would have been headlined by someone like Robert Redford or Warren Beatty. Crucially neither gentleman would have been any better than George Clooney is in the starring role. I think that this is a tribute to how far George Clooney has come. He is now a bona fide movie actor as well as being a bona fide movie star. My lord, whisper it... He might even get an Oscar nomination for "Michael Clayton".
George Clooney plays Michael Clayton, shadowy fixer for a high powered law firm. You got a messy problem? You got an awkward situation? You need a cool head in your corner, and the problem tidied up quickly and smartly? Clayton is your man.
When a senior lawyer at the firm, Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson), working on a several billion dollar lawsuit, goes into serious mental meltdown, Clayton is called in to sort out the situation. What Clayton doesn't know is that Edens has been disturbed by certain evidence he has found while working on the case. Certain evidence that other interested parties most definitely do not want to come to light...
"Michael Clayton" is a great thriller. Smart, intelligent script and direction by Tony Gilroy (as tight and claustrophobic as the "Bourne" films). Great, multi-layered performance by George Clooney, and just brilliant support from Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton.
A proper grown up film. They do not make them like that anymore. You must see it.
******
I am now reading Philip Pullman's first novel in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, "Northern Lights". I have been desperate to start it for weeks, as the movie adaptation "The Golden Compass" opens on 5th December 2007, and I never like to watch a movie adaptation of a book I have only just finished reading. Months ago, Lorraine had lent the whole trilogy to a girl at work and she only returned it last week. She said she had never got around to reading it.
Silly girl.
I am about 100 pages into "Northern Lights". So far I think it is a great book. I am off now to read some more of it.
Later.
Today's question.
By deciding not to go for an early election, did Gordon Brown bottle it?
Today's answer.
Yes. Er... I mean No. I don't know. Maybe. If David Cameron (or Tony Blair or John Major or The Witch or James Callaghan or Harold Wilson, et al) had been Prime Minister, they would have made exactly the same decision. Only an insane Prime Minister would call an election when they didn't have to, if the polls showed a chance that their party might lose. Why risk it now?
So, bottling it? Maybe only making the only decision that could be made at the time.
Thanks for visiting. Pynchon's Political Corner will return... er... sometime.
******
Yesterday I saw "Michael Clayton" starring big (allegedly) George Clooney. Here is a nice picture of him, just for Katy. Poor guy. He's looking a bit tired, isn't he?
I liked "Michael Clayton" a great deal. It is a good, old fashioned, corporate conspiracy thriller that, 30 years ago, would have been headlined by someone like Robert Redford or Warren Beatty. Crucially neither gentleman would have been any better than George Clooney is in the starring role. I think that this is a tribute to how far George Clooney has come. He is now a bona fide movie actor as well as being a bona fide movie star. My lord, whisper it... He might even get an Oscar nomination for "Michael Clayton".
George Clooney plays Michael Clayton, shadowy fixer for a high powered law firm. You got a messy problem? You got an awkward situation? You need a cool head in your corner, and the problem tidied up quickly and smartly? Clayton is your man.
When a senior lawyer at the firm, Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson), working on a several billion dollar lawsuit, goes into serious mental meltdown, Clayton is called in to sort out the situation. What Clayton doesn't know is that Edens has been disturbed by certain evidence he has found while working on the case. Certain evidence that other interested parties most definitely do not want to come to light...
"Michael Clayton" is a great thriller. Smart, intelligent script and direction by Tony Gilroy (as tight and claustrophobic as the "Bourne" films). Great, multi-layered performance by George Clooney, and just brilliant support from Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton.
A proper grown up film. They do not make them like that anymore. You must see it.
******
I am now reading Philip Pullman's first novel in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, "Northern Lights". I have been desperate to start it for weeks, as the movie adaptation "The Golden Compass" opens on 5th December 2007, and I never like to watch a movie adaptation of a book I have only just finished reading. Months ago, Lorraine had lent the whole trilogy to a girl at work and she only returned it last week. She said she had never got around to reading it.
Silly girl.
I am about 100 pages into "Northern Lights". So far I think it is a great book. I am off now to read some more of it.
Later.
Labels: Movies, Politics, Reading
My entertaining weekend.
I finally finished reading "Making History".
I liked it well enough, mostly because of the ingenious central idea (*** SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS *** preventing the birth of Adolf Hitler precipitates a successful Final Solution to the Jewish problem *** END OF SPOILERS), but thought that it was slapdashly (is that a word?) and haphazardly written, almost as if Stephen Fry couldn't decide the kind of book he wanted to write. A bit surprising, that. You would imagine that anything written by such an erudite individual would would be kind of wonderful. Well, it was published in 1997. Perhaps his writing has got better?
I went to see "The Heartbreak Kid" starring Ben Stiller.
Lorraine loathes Ben Stiller. She loathes him almost as much, but not quite as much, as she loathes Jim Carrey. When I pointed out to her that Ben Stiller has been in some really good films, she said that that might well be the case, but those films were good despite Ben Stiller and not because of Ben Stiller.
How curious. I tend to think pretty much the opposite. I think a number of really average films have been improved by Ben Stiller being in the cast. And that just about brings us to "The Heartbreak Kid" .
Frankly, it is hardly a great film, but if you are a Farrelly Brothers fan, and I am, you will find enough to enjoy because it is exactly like all of their other films. I cannot make any comparison between this film and the original "The Heartbreak Kid", because I have never seen the original but Farrelly's version is stupid, rude, vulgar and gross out. As I said, just like all of their other films. Hey! No harm in watching one of those, once in a while.
I thought that Ben Stiller was good. Nobody plays Mr. Exasperated like Ben Stiller. I thought that Malin Akerman was good. Gorgeous and sexy and as mad as a fish. I thought that Michelle Monaghan was OK, but it was a thankless part as all she really had to be was pretty and nice and normal and the kind of girl you would introduce to your Mother. Jerry Stiller (Ben's Dad) was really funny.
"The Heartbreak Kid" is not subtle, but if you are in the right frame of mind, it is enjoyable.
Yesterday I saw "Michael Clayton", but I will write about that later. I have to get dressed to go to work.
Boo!
I finally finished reading "Making History".
I liked it well enough, mostly because of the ingenious central idea (*** SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS *** preventing the birth of Adolf Hitler precipitates a successful Final Solution to the Jewish problem *** END OF SPOILERS), but thought that it was slapdashly (is that a word?) and haphazardly written, almost as if Stephen Fry couldn't decide the kind of book he wanted to write. A bit surprising, that. You would imagine that anything written by such an erudite individual would would be kind of wonderful. Well, it was published in 1997. Perhaps his writing has got better?
I went to see "The Heartbreak Kid" starring Ben Stiller.
Lorraine loathes Ben Stiller. She loathes him almost as much, but not quite as much, as she loathes Jim Carrey. When I pointed out to her that Ben Stiller has been in some really good films, she said that that might well be the case, but those films were good despite Ben Stiller and not because of Ben Stiller.
How curious. I tend to think pretty much the opposite. I think a number of really average films have been improved by Ben Stiller being in the cast. And that just about brings us to "The Heartbreak Kid" .
Frankly, it is hardly a great film, but if you are a Farrelly Brothers fan, and I am, you will find enough to enjoy because it is exactly like all of their other films. I cannot make any comparison between this film and the original "The Heartbreak Kid", because I have never seen the original but Farrelly's version is stupid, rude, vulgar and gross out. As I said, just like all of their other films. Hey! No harm in watching one of those, once in a while.
I thought that Ben Stiller was good. Nobody plays Mr. Exasperated like Ben Stiller. I thought that Malin Akerman was good. Gorgeous and sexy and as mad as a fish. I thought that Michelle Monaghan was OK, but it was a thankless part as all she really had to be was pretty and nice and normal and the kind of girl you would introduce to your Mother. Jerry Stiller (Ben's Dad) was really funny.
"The Heartbreak Kid" is not subtle, but if you are in the right frame of mind, it is enjoyable.
Yesterday I saw "Michael Clayton", but I will write about that later. I have to get dressed to go to work.
Boo!
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Saturday, October 06, 2007
The thing is, when being a smart alec by giving clues as to the content of a CD that you are about to send to a lucky recipient, it is always good policy to pick the correct fucking CD.
So...
The lyrics yesterday were from
"The Greatest Compilation Album In The World, Volume 3"
which is the CD I have decided not to send out and not
"The Greatest Compilation Album In The World, Volume 4"
which is the CD I have sent out.
So, let's do this again.
"The're selling razor blades..."
"I used to live in New York City..."
"First there are kisses..."
"Bus ride is too slow..."
"He is a lonely man..."
"Come back to haunt me..."
"Risking it all in a glance..."
"... you were not impressed"
"... boy with bones like that"
"... too much for my nerves..."
"... buttering the toast..."
"It's been eight years since I left you..."
See. That was worth it wasn't it?
(Wanker.)
I have been to see "The Heartbreak Kid" starring Ben Stiller, but will write about that tomorrow. You know how it goes. Places to go, people to see.
(Yeah, I know. I am going to slump in front of the TV. Sue me.)
So...
The lyrics yesterday were from
"The Greatest Compilation Album In The World, Volume 3"
which is the CD I have decided not to send out and not
"The Greatest Compilation Album In The World, Volume 4"
which is the CD I have sent out.
So, let's do this again.
"The're selling razor blades..."
"I used to live in New York City..."
"First there are kisses..."
"Bus ride is too slow..."
"He is a lonely man..."
"Come back to haunt me..."
"Risking it all in a glance..."
"... you were not impressed"
"... boy with bones like that"
"... too much for my nerves..."
"... buttering the toast..."
"It's been eight years since I left you..."
See. That was worth it wasn't it?
(Wanker.)
I have been to see "The Heartbreak Kid" starring Ben Stiller, but will write about that tomorrow. You know how it goes. Places to go, people to see.
(Yeah, I know. I am going to slump in front of the TV. Sue me.)
Labels: Music
Friday, October 05, 2007
Here's the thing.
Re. The Swiss Toni Shuffleathon 2007. Yer Pynch had considered quite a few songs. He had made his selection and had solved the tricky 'Track 11' problem. He had
"The Greatest Compilation Album In The World, Volume 3"
cut and ready to go. He was completely happy with his choices. The sun was out, birds were chirping in the trees, at work pretty girls with large chests smiled at him, and then...
Oh, for Pete's sake! Yer Pynch decided at the last minute to compile a completely different CD.
Oh, well...
"The Greatest Compilation Album In The World, Volume 4"
is cut and ready to go. It will be in the post tomorrow. I think that Volume 4 is a bit more of a serious and personal proposition than Volume 3, although I think both are pretty good collections. (I'm great, I am!)
Fancy some clues as to the content? Of course you do. I did the same thing last year. (It must be said, to wide disinterest, but I don't care about that.)
"Don't need candlelight..."
"I got an evil mind..."
"On a radio telescope..."
"I see you at night..."
"Listen to the silence..."
"If you want it..."
"For the call of thunder..."
"Bring out all the love you hide..."
"Sitting in my easy chair..."
"A million little memories..."
"How I really feel..."
"When I was boozing..."
And on that note, I am going to have a lie down.
Goodnight.
Re. The Swiss Toni Shuffleathon 2007. Yer Pynch had considered quite a few songs. He had made his selection and had solved the tricky 'Track 11' problem. He had
"The Greatest Compilation Album In The World, Volume 3"
cut and ready to go. He was completely happy with his choices. The sun was out, birds were chirping in the trees, at work pretty girls with large chests smiled at him, and then...
Oh, for Pete's sake! Yer Pynch decided at the last minute to compile a completely different CD.
Oh, well...
"The Greatest Compilation Album In The World, Volume 4"
is cut and ready to go. It will be in the post tomorrow. I think that Volume 4 is a bit more of a serious and personal proposition than Volume 3, although I think both are pretty good collections. (I'm great, I am!)
Fancy some clues as to the content? Of course you do. I did the same thing last year. (It must be said, to wide disinterest, but I don't care about that.)
"Don't need candlelight..."
"I got an evil mind..."
"On a radio telescope..."
"I see you at night..."
"Listen to the silence..."
"If you want it..."
"For the call of thunder..."
"Bring out all the love you hide..."
"Sitting in my easy chair..."
"A million little memories..."
"How I really feel..."
"When I was boozing..."
And on that note, I am going to have a lie down.
Goodnight.
Labels: Music
Thursday, October 04, 2007
"Shoot 'Em Up".
"Shoot 'Em Up" is the kind of film that John Woo used to make, before he moved into American movies and started to make rubbish.
("Mission: Impossible II"? Hand me the DVD will you? Thanks a lot. (Sets it alight with a blowtorch and throws it in the bin!) That's how you dispose of rubbish.)
"Shoot 'Em Up" is faintly preposterous, ridiculous and hyper violent; not to mention somewhat distasteful (lactating hookers? no thanks, pal) and illogical. It contains poker faced performances by Clive Owen (who obviously could never have been the modern Bond, because his film choices clearly demonstrate he cannot take popcorn action films seriously - not that it affected Roger Moore's career, mind) and a sizzling hot Monica Bellucci (who I suspect, like Penelope Cruz before her, just cannot act in English).
It is short, fast, relentless and hyper kinetic. As thin and insubstantial as tissue paper and I loved every daft minute of it. Great stuff.
Crack open a cold one and enjoy.
"Shoot 'Em Up" is the kind of film that John Woo used to make, before he moved into American movies and started to make rubbish.
("Mission: Impossible II"? Hand me the DVD will you? Thanks a lot. (Sets it alight with a blowtorch and throws it in the bin!) That's how you dispose of rubbish.)
"Shoot 'Em Up" is faintly preposterous, ridiculous and hyper violent; not to mention somewhat distasteful (lactating hookers? no thanks, pal) and illogical. It contains poker faced performances by Clive Owen (who obviously could never have been the modern Bond, because his film choices clearly demonstrate he cannot take popcorn action films seriously - not that it affected Roger Moore's career, mind) and a sizzling hot Monica Bellucci (who I suspect, like Penelope Cruz before her, just cannot act in English).
It is short, fast, relentless and hyper kinetic. As thin and insubstantial as tissue paper and I loved every daft minute of it. Great stuff.
Crack open a cold one and enjoy.
Labels: Movies
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Re. my absence. I had to get away.
The only way I can describe it, and this is particularly poor, is that after a really great time at LB and Hen's wedding reception, something went very wrong in my head. Way before that weekend I had started to dislike this John Pynchon character a great deal. He became everything gob shite about me. Crass and drunk and vile and intolerant. I didn't want to be him anymore. I wanted to be someone else and to do something else. There was a point during the week when I became absolutely depressed, fed up and sick of writing about myself. It was all I was doing and it was all the same old shit. Lorraine, films, no sex, music, TV, indifference, writers block, severe insomnia, shit, shit, shit, shit.
So, I stopped. I did other things and I went back to sleeping at night again. Now I'm back and I feel a lot better. Madly enough I missed blogging, but I have also found other things to do and the balance is better. Maybe this will mean that the volume of posts will go down, but hopefully the quality of the posts will go up. I am not the most interesting person in the world and I certainly am not the best writer in the world, but feel free to disagree, if you see fit.
I had an email from a friend in a far off place. That helped a lot. You know who you are.
Anyway, I had to return. The 2007 Shuffleathon is in full swing. (It is going to be an annual event, isn't it Swiss?) I have a disc cut and ready to go this weekend. I have not tailored it in any way, shape or form, for the person it is going to. (Just as well, because I don't know them anyway and, for various reasons, I cannot read their blog.) Hopefully they will love it.
Of course they will love it, it is a masterpiece. You know it.
The Greatest Compilation Album In The World, Volume 3
And do you know what? It would be equally wonderful if they just hated it.
Last weekend I saw two films: "Across The Universe" and "Shoot 'Em Up". I will write about "Across The Universe" today.
Here in the UK, "Across The Universe" has had somewhat of a rough ride from some critics. (Hi there esteemed film reviewers of the "Independent" and "Metro" newspapers!) Basically they felt that "Across The Universe" was just awful; shoehorning the Beatles music into an ill-thought through piece of musical cinema, using those songs in wholly inappropriate and crass ways.
I cannot say that I understand their opinion completely. Maybe you just have to be a Beatles fan to appreciate the film, but I thought that "Across The Universe" was absolutely wonderful.
OK... Maybe not absolutely wonderful. Outside of the many great musical set pieces (there are 31 songs on the soundtrack) the film suffers from a somewhat lethargic pacing and a fairly witless and predictable story. Guff about the innocence of the early Sixties being eroded by Vietnam, civil rights, the expanding drug culture, sexual and political revolution is used as a background to a simplistic story of Boy meets Girl, Boy and Girl fall in love, Boy loses Girl, Boy gets Girl back and, hey, guess what? The message here is that "All You Need Is Love".
You got all that? Good. Forget all of it, because what makes "Across The Universe" a really good film, and where it really works, is in the stunning visuals (Julie Taymor also made "Titus", which anybody will tell you is an astonishing looking film) and the brilliant versions of those songs, some of which are over 40 years old.
Highlights?
T. V. Carpio's version of "I Want To Hold Your Hand", reinvented as a lesbian torch song. Evan Rachel Wood's exuberant "It Won't Be Long" (I sadly have to report that I had completely forgotten that brilliant opener to "With The Beatles"), as a great, lost, call and response, Sixties girl group number. Bono's truly bonkers version of "I Am The Walrus". Joe Cocker's muscular take on "Come Together". Joe Anderson's "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" (with Salma Hayek popping up a a nurse, oh, yes!) Practically everything sang by Jim Sturgess ("Strawberry Fields Forever", "Across The Universe", "Girl") and Dana Fuchs ("Helter Skelter", "Oh Darling", "Don't Let Me Down").
Er... Basically the highlights were all of the musical sections of the film. True, Eddie Izzard doing "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" was kind of terrible, but I think it was supposed to be terrible.
Even if you are not a Beatles fan, and there are some of those curious creatures about (Hi there, Mr. Planet! Hi there, Graham!), there is a lot to enjoy in "Across The Universe". But be warned. You are almost certainly going to miss out on some of the fun Beatles references, he says smugly. (A girl climbing in through a bathroom window, anyone? The climatic rooftop gig being interrupted by the police, bringing to mind the last time the Beatles played live, on the roof of Apple headquarters on 30th January 1969.)
I think that "Across The Universe" is worth seeing, but I would say that, being Beatles fan A number 1.
Remember... "All You Need Is Love".
"Shoot 'Em Up" later in the week. "Heroes" is on tomorrow.
The only way I can describe it, and this is particularly poor, is that after a really great time at LB and Hen's wedding reception, something went very wrong in my head. Way before that weekend I had started to dislike this John Pynchon character a great deal. He became everything gob shite about me. Crass and drunk and vile and intolerant. I didn't want to be him anymore. I wanted to be someone else and to do something else. There was a point during the week when I became absolutely depressed, fed up and sick of writing about myself. It was all I was doing and it was all the same old shit. Lorraine, films, no sex, music, TV, indifference, writers block, severe insomnia, shit, shit, shit, shit.
So, I stopped. I did other things and I went back to sleeping at night again. Now I'm back and I feel a lot better. Madly enough I missed blogging, but I have also found other things to do and the balance is better. Maybe this will mean that the volume of posts will go down, but hopefully the quality of the posts will go up. I am not the most interesting person in the world and I certainly am not the best writer in the world, but feel free to disagree, if you see fit.
I had an email from a friend in a far off place. That helped a lot. You know who you are.
Anyway, I had to return. The 2007 Shuffleathon is in full swing. (It is going to be an annual event, isn't it Swiss?) I have a disc cut and ready to go this weekend. I have not tailored it in any way, shape or form, for the person it is going to. (Just as well, because I don't know them anyway and, for various reasons, I cannot read their blog.) Hopefully they will love it.
Of course they will love it, it is a masterpiece. You know it.
The Greatest Compilation Album In The World, Volume 3
And do you know what? It would be equally wonderful if they just hated it.
Last weekend I saw two films: "Across The Universe" and "Shoot 'Em Up". I will write about "Across The Universe" today.
Here in the UK, "Across The Universe" has had somewhat of a rough ride from some critics. (Hi there esteemed film reviewers of the "Independent" and "Metro" newspapers!) Basically they felt that "Across The Universe" was just awful; shoehorning the Beatles music into an ill-thought through piece of musical cinema, using those songs in wholly inappropriate and crass ways.
I cannot say that I understand their opinion completely. Maybe you just have to be a Beatles fan to appreciate the film, but I thought that "Across The Universe" was absolutely wonderful.
OK... Maybe not absolutely wonderful. Outside of the many great musical set pieces (there are 31 songs on the soundtrack) the film suffers from a somewhat lethargic pacing and a fairly witless and predictable story. Guff about the innocence of the early Sixties being eroded by Vietnam, civil rights, the expanding drug culture, sexual and political revolution is used as a background to a simplistic story of Boy meets Girl, Boy and Girl fall in love, Boy loses Girl, Boy gets Girl back and, hey, guess what? The message here is that "All You Need Is Love".
You got all that? Good. Forget all of it, because what makes "Across The Universe" a really good film, and where it really works, is in the stunning visuals (Julie Taymor also made "Titus", which anybody will tell you is an astonishing looking film) and the brilliant versions of those songs, some of which are over 40 years old.
Highlights?
T. V. Carpio's version of "I Want To Hold Your Hand", reinvented as a lesbian torch song. Evan Rachel Wood's exuberant "It Won't Be Long" (I sadly have to report that I had completely forgotten that brilliant opener to "With The Beatles"), as a great, lost, call and response, Sixties girl group number. Bono's truly bonkers version of "I Am The Walrus". Joe Cocker's muscular take on "Come Together". Joe Anderson's "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" (with Salma Hayek popping up a a nurse, oh, yes!) Practically everything sang by Jim Sturgess ("Strawberry Fields Forever", "Across The Universe", "Girl") and Dana Fuchs ("Helter Skelter", "Oh Darling", "Don't Let Me Down").
Er... Basically the highlights were all of the musical sections of the film. True, Eddie Izzard doing "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" was kind of terrible, but I think it was supposed to be terrible.
Even if you are not a Beatles fan, and there are some of those curious creatures about (Hi there, Mr. Planet! Hi there, Graham!), there is a lot to enjoy in "Across The Universe". But be warned. You are almost certainly going to miss out on some of the fun Beatles references, he says smugly. (A girl climbing in through a bathroom window, anyone? The climatic rooftop gig being interrupted by the police, bringing to mind the last time the Beatles played live, on the roof of Apple headquarters on 30th January 1969.)
I think that "Across The Universe" is worth seeing, but I would say that, being Beatles fan A number 1.
Remember... "All You Need Is Love".
"Shoot 'Em Up" later in the week. "Heroes" is on tomorrow.
Labels: Illness, Movies, Thoughts
